There's no reason why we can't remain unbeaten, says Abbott

Abbott admitted his side didn’t play well during their goal-less draw away to Folkestone Invicta yesterday and had goalkeeper Matt Reed to thank for claiming a point, making stunning saves to prevent Kieran Byrne and Jimmy Jackson.

But victory over Merstham at Bourne Park on Monday night will take them to within one point of leaders Kingstonian, although they would have played two games more than the Surrey giants.

Abbott, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following yesterday’s goal-less draw, was pleased that his side stretched their unbeaten run to seven games and expects his side to win tomorrow and increase their title hopes.

Merstham go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to third-placed Cray Wanderers yesterday on a pitch that was frozen and dangerous to play on.

But these are the games Sittingbourne need to win if there to play Ryman Premier League football next season.

"I think people are starting to worry about us,” said Abbott. “We’ll go along nice and quietly, we’re not going to bang on people’s dressing rooms because we’ve won a game. We could’ve done that at Kingstonian last week but we didn’t want to do that.

“I’m not about that it’s about just keep going on every game, one at a time, and we’ll try and beat Merstham on Monday and go second in the table.”

Abbott, who keeps saying people wrote off his side at the start of the season, says Rio Alderton could return to the squad, having missed the game at Folkestone, although defender Ian Varley sits out with an ankle injury.

“The Christmas period is a big period for every team, not just us,” said Abbott. “If anyone wants to get into the play-off’s or go on and win it you’ve got to pick a few points up, which we have.

“I’m really happy with what we’ve got, the squad we’ve got. We’re on a great run and we’ll continue. Why can’t we go all the way without getting beaten towards the end of the season.

“There’s no reason why we can’t do that.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be bringing live updates of this game, courtesy of Mike Green.

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk
 
Sittingbourne v Merstham
Ryman League Division One South
Monday 5^th January 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB